Originally published at: https://www.rangersnews.uk/club-news/gary-mcallister-admits-euro-games-in-july-is-pretty-bizarre/
Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister has admitted that it is “pretty bizarre” to be playing competitive games in mid-July – but insists it’s not as big an issue as 12 months ago. The Gers will kick their campaign off ridiculously early again this year when they enter the Europa League qualifiers in July and Gary…
As good as the run was in Europe this season was, I wouldn’t make qualification to the group stage a major priority, use the qualification games as pre season warm ups and if we qualify then do be it, but this year is massive for us in the league, do we really want to be travelling all over Europe on a Thursday night again, Europa League for fringe players I suggest, keep the big boys fresh for league games
We did very well to qualify last year. there was no pressure other than to do better than Pedro, but we made the group stages. It has been forgotten that this required a fair bit of luck, with higher seeded teams knocked out before we played them.
I would love us to make the group stages again, but a failure to do so would not be a disaster if we lose to a higher ranked team.
Having said that, we will be stronger this summer with the manager having had a year to learn, the players having worked together and not as many new additions.
So fingers crossed